Two Pitches, Two Home Runs

Will hit home runs on two straight pitches, and the Prowlers took 2 of 3 games, placing them in Sunday’s noon Forsyth County semifinal game. The Hurt family came to watch the Friday night win. In the bottom of the 5th, down 4-3, Mary predicted a comeback. Six of the Prowlers first seven batters scored, the rally capped when Will slugged an 1-0 pitch deep over the left-centerfield fence.

Saturday morning Will led off the first inning in the Prowlers’ rematch with the Renegates, facing former teammate Benji Griffenhagen on the mound. Will slammed the first pitch far over the centerfield fence, for his second home run in two pitches. In the third inning he again slugged the first pitch he saw, this time to the base of the right-centerfield fence, for an easy triple.

In the 5th Benji walked Will on a full count. Later Will stole third, when the catcher tried to pick Audi off first. Will wasn’t able to make the many remarkable plays Saturday that he did in front of the Hurts Friday night, though he did throw one runner out at first and tag another at second.

Thursday night the Prowlers scored ten runs in the first three innings to beat the Sandy Plains Sidewinders. In the first Will led off with a walk, stole second, and took third and home on wild pitches. In the second Will’s line drive over the third-baseman’s head drove home Ryan G. Will took second on the throw home, third on a single, and then home on an error. In the third Will singled through the hole into left field.

The Hurts were also able to see Will have a good game on defense Friday night. In the first he caught a popup and forced a runner at second in the second. He threw out batters at first in the first, third, fifth, and twice in the sixth. In the fifth the batter grounded a slow grounder up the middle. Will raced across and scooped it up just in front of the base, firing to first just in time for the out. With two out in the sixth, an even slower roller was hit just to the third base side of the mound. Will charged, scooped, and threw. The throw and batter seemingly arrived at first at the same time. The umpire called him out to end the game.

Stats for the three games, in batting order:
Will…5-9, 5 runs, 3 RBI, triple, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 SB.
Audi…RBI, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 SB, 2 BB.
Jared…2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI
Tyler…triple, RBI, SB, 2 runs, 2 BB.
Mitch…3-7, double, RBI, SB, 2 runs, 2 BB.
AJ…2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 5 walks.
Ryan T…3-8, SB, BB, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 4 RBI
Ryan G…4-6, 3 RBI, sac fly, 2 runs, 2 BB, 2 SB.
Michael…double, RBI, BB, 2 runs.